emeriti

We mourn the passing of our colleague Craig Tracy. 

Craig Tracy was an American mathematician known for his contributions to mathematical physics and probability theory. Born in 1945 in England to a British mother and an American father, Craig was raised on a farm in Missouri. After obtaining a B.Sc. in Physics from University of Missouri (1967), he studied at Stony Brook University, where he obtained a Ph.D. in Physics with the thesis Spin-Spin Scale-Functions in the Ising and XY-Models (1973), advised by Barry M. McCoy. 

Roger J-B Wets was a Distinguished Research Professor of Mathematics at UC Davis, who passed away in April 2025. He was well regarded as an inspiring mathematician and described by his students as an amazing mentor. He guided nineteen students to their Ph.D. and developed a Mathematical Finance course for our Department. Collaborators talk of both his brilliance at research, but also his kindness, good humor, and thoughtful personality.  

After graduating from UC Davis, I went on to obtain a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard in 1983. I taught for six years as an assistant professor at UC Irvine before moving to Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where I still teach. Being at a liberal arts college has allowed me to stretch beyond my formal area of expertise. I have done that extensively, working in areas as far-flung as sports psychology, political geography, communications theory, public health, economics pedagogy, as well as a bit of economics. 

Recent emeritus Blake Temple is keeping busy reporting on new results.

In the years 1992-94, the University of California offered a golden handshake under the acronym VERIP. In 1994, having twice refused the lure, I signed up for VERIP III, making 2024 my 30th year of retirement.

Some of us recall Gary Kurowski, who passed away peacefully at his home on July 26, 2022. Gary was born on March 22, 1931 in Fargo, North Dakota. Summer vacations consisted of spending time at the family cabin on the lake. These experiences instilled a life-long love of being near water. Gary attended schools in Fargo, and then continued his studies at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated in 1954. Like many young men at the time, he was drafted into the army during the Korean War. After his required two years in the army, Gary returned to the study of mathematics.

I retired in 2015 and bear a title of Professor Emeritus for more than 7 years. It is a common belief that after many years of hard work, emeriti enjoy their well deserved rest, not burdened by any formal duties. It may be true in general, but not in my case. I have an impression that never in my life I worked as hard as now. During my retirement I have never stopped teaching.

I started my Lectureship in the Department of Mathematics at UC Davis in 1982 and reluctantly retired in the spring 2021. During that time I also spent 18 years as a member of the UC Davis Men’s Basketball coaching staff, highlighted by a Division II National Championship in 1998, an exciting four-year transition from Division II to Division I, and becoming a member of the Big West Athletic Conference. It was a long, busy, and rewarding journey with many ups and downs.